Closure operator



Aug. 19,1931). D. .1. STEWART CLOSURE OPERATOR Filed June 25, 1927 3Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Duncan LI SLELJRPZ ATTORNEYS Aug. 19, 1930. D.J. STEWART CLOSURE OPERATOR Filed June 23, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR Lmmm CI E a-13ft ATTORNEYS Aug. 19, 1930.

D. J. STE WART CLOSURE OPERATOR Filed June 23, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 F5. INVENTOR Duncan LI SLELJATL TORNEYJ TU LINE Patented Aug. 19, 1930UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DUN CAN J. STEWART, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS,ASSIGNOR TO HOWARD I). COLMAN, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS CLOSURE OPERATORApplication filed June 28,

This invention relates to closure opera tors and more especially topower-driven operators such as are commonly used to open and close heavygarage or factory doors.

It is often desirable for a person wishing to enter or leave a garage orfactory building to use the doorway normally provided for the use ofvehicles. For this purpose it is unnecessary and infact undesirable,especially in cold Weather, to open the door full width. Where the dooris intended to be used by vehicles and is adapted to be opened or closedby a power operator, the operator must be started once to open the doorand again to close it. Therefore, when a person desires to use such adoor,it would be necessary for him to operate the control device tostart the operator to open the door and then to Wait until the door hasbeen opened before actuating the control device to close the door.

An important object of the present invention therefore is to provide anew and improved poWer-driven operator for a door which is operable bythe actuation of one control device to open the door full width so thata vehicle or the like may pass through the doorway, or by the actuationof a difierent control device to cause the door tobe only partiallyopened as to allow persons to enter or leave the building and then aftera slight delay to be automatically returned to closed position. In thisparticular the present invention constitutes an improvement over theclosure operator which forms the subject of a copending application ofHoward D. Colman and Duncan J. Stewart, Serial No. 139,277, filedOctober 4, 1926.

A more detailed object of the invention is to provide a motor-drivendoor operator each cycle of operation of which is initiated by closing asingle switch and terminated by opening said switch, there being twoindependently operable control devices, one adapted to initiate eachnormal opening or closing cycle, and the other adapted to cause the doorto be opened part way and then automatically closed. v

Another object is to provide an operator adapted when started to openand then automatically close the door, a novel means being 1927. SerialNo. 200,857.

provided to delay the operation of the operator in closing the door.

A further object is to provide an operator having a novel means by whichthe operator may be caused to execute operating cycles of differentlengths whereby to move a closure member different distances from openor closed position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description taken in connection 'with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in vertical section of the driving unitof the operator.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the plane of line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing a reversing switch.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the power driving unit takenfrom the side of the unit opposite from which Fig. 1 is taken.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan section of the doors and a portion of theoperator.

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of a lost-motion connection employed fordetermining the lengths of the door operating cycles.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the parts shown in Fig. 6. a

Fig. 8 is a theoretical wiring diagram.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications andalternative constructions, I have shown and herein describe in detailthe preferred embodiment but it is to be understood that I do notthereby intend to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed butintend to cover all modifications and alternative constructions fallingwithin the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in theappended claims.

In its exemplary form shown in the drawings, the invention is embodiedin a door operator of the type disclosed in a copending application byHoward D. Colman, Serial No. 166,086, filed February 5, 1927, theoperator in the present instance being adapted to actuate a pair ofsliding doors 10 (Fig. 5). These doors may be mounted in abuttingrelation in a common plane so that they may be moved apart to open thedoorway and together to close the doorway, the latter position of thedoors being shown in Fig. 5.

Mounted on the ceiling or other suitable stationary support is a bracket11 (Fig. having a bearing 12 in which a drive shaft 13 is Ournaledcentrally and in perpendicular relation to the doorway. As its forwardend, the shaft 13 carries a pinion 14 meshing at diametrically oppositesides with two rack bars 15, the free ends of which may be slidablysupported b pipes 16. Rollers 17 mounted on the brac et 11 serve to holdthe rack bars in mesh with the pinion 14. The inner end of each rack baris rigidly connected by a link 18 to a fixture 19 secured to the door onthe opposite side of the doorway from the pipe supporting the rack bar.Thus, it will be seen that upon rotation of the shaft 13 in oppositedirections both of the rack bars will be reciprocated simultaneously toopen or close the doors.

The shaft 13 is connected by a universal coupling 20 to a drive shaft 21of the power driving unit which is shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 2.This unit includes a frame structure generally designated by the numeral22 and adapted to be mounted on the ceiling or other suitable support,an electric motor 23 having a driving connection with the shaft 21, andmechanism for controlling the starting, stopping and direction ofrotation of the motor in successive door operating cycles.

The motor shown herein is of the singlephase induction type adapted tobe operated by alternating current and having a main field winding 24(Fi 3) and a starting field winding 25. Frefera bly, the motor ismounted on the frame 22 with its shaft 26 alined with the drive shaft 21as shown in Fig. 2, the connection between the motor shaft and the driveshaft including a centrifugally-operated clutch 27 and a speed reducinggearing 28 of the planetary type. The clutch 27 includes a plate 29 on asleeve 30 arranged to rotate with the motor shaft through the medium ofa flexible coupling 31. Pivoted on the plate 29 are a pair of dogs 32disposed within a drum 33 which is fixed to a shaft 34 on which thesleeve 30 is rotatably mounted. Thus, it will be observed that when themotor starts to rotate, the dogs 32 will be swung outwardly bycentrifugal action against the tension of springs 35, thereby grippingthe internal surface of the drum when a redetermined speed has beenattained. y similar action the clutches disconnect the motor shaft andthe shaft 34 as the motor slows down in stopping. After suchdisconnection the motor, due to the inertia of its rotor, will continueto rotate for a brief interval.

The planetary gearing 28 which is of well known construction, comprisesa pinion 36 meshing with gears 37 on flying studs 38 carried by plate 39which is rigid with the drive shaft 21. The gears 37 mesh with theinternal teeth of a ring gear 40 which is normally held stationary by aspring pressed dog 41. Thus, in the rotation of the pinion 36 the shaft21 rotates at a reduced speed.

The means for controlling the operation of the motor and therefore themovements of the doors, comprises a main motor switch 42, a brake 43, areversing switch 44 (Figs. 3 and 8) and means for actuating thesecontrol devices in proper sequence under initial manual control. Themotor switch includes contact terminals 45 stationarily mounted on theframe 22 and cooperating with terminals 46 carried by a bar 47 which.extends through an opening 48 in the frame and is disposed above thedrum 33. This bar constitutes a lever which has a floating mounting,that is, the fulcrum of the lever is shiftable from one point to anotherso that the lever may execute a plurality of different control movementsin pivoting about different fulcrums. To provide such a mounting, thebar is pivoted intermediate its ends on a stud 49 which in turn iscarried by a rocker member 50 pivoted at 51 on the stationary frame 22.

The brake 43 consists of a block (Fig. 2) of friction material carriedby the lever 47 in position to be pressed into a peripheral groove (Fig.2) in the drum 33 by a strong tension spring 53 attached to the bar 4?.

Normally, that is, when the motor is at rest, the forward end of thelever 47 is held in raised position by a latch 54 pivoted at andyieldingly pressed in beneath the lever by a spring 56. The lower end ofthe latch constitutes the armature of a control magnet 57 which whenenergized serves to trip the lever 47 by removing the latch. lVhen thusreleased, the lever swings under the action of the spring 53 to releasethe brake and close the main motor switch, the stud 49 at this timeproviding a stationary fulcrum for the lever. This initiates theoperation of the door operating cycle during which the doors are movedeither to open or closed position, depending on the direction ofrotation of the motor.

Means is provided for actuating the control lever 47 to terminate eachdoor-operating cycle by stopping the motor and reconditioning thecontrol lever 47 for operation in the next cycle. This means includes acontrol shaft 58 (Figs. 1 and 5) mounted for oscillation on the frame 22and having a lost-motion connection with the drive shaft 21. Carried bythe shaft 58 and operating upon a follower arm 59 rigid with the rockermember 50, is a cam device comprising two disks 60, one fixed to theshaft 58 and having a lobe 61 with oppositely inclined surfaces 62, theother disk having a pin-and-slot connection 64 with the first disk andbeing provided with a lobe 65 having radially extending surfaces 66.Since the lobe 65 is'shiftable relative to the lobe 61, the twodiskswhen oscillated in either direction, cooperate to provide a camhaving an inclined leading surface formed by the lobe 61 and an abru ttrailing surface formed by the lobe 65, t e latter surface beingpositioned by shifting of the lobe 65- by'engagement between thefollower 59 and the leading surface 66 of the lobe 65.

In the oscillation of the cam device toward the follower 59, thefollower will be swung in a direction to cause the stud 49 to be raisedand then suddenly released as thetrailingcam surface 6 passes beyond thefollower. At this time, the main switch 42 is closed and in the upwardmovement of the stud, the lever 47 is swung upwardly about a fulcrumformed by the upper edge of the opening 48 in the frame. The latch 54 isthus allowed to move in beneath the lever 47 to hold the forward end ofthe lever in raised position. Thereafter, when the abrupt surface of thecam passes the follower, thereby releasing the stud 49, the rear end ofthe lever swings downwardly under the action of the spring 53 to openthe main motor switch and apply the brake, thereby terminating the cycleof operation. The upper end of the latch 54 constitutes the fulcrum forthis movement.

The lost motion connection between the drive shaft 21 and the controlshaft 58 I through the medium of which the shaft 58 is I 7. Thisconnection comprises a series of disks 67, 68, 69 and 69 arranged incoaxial relation on the end of the shaft 58 opposite the cam device, andeach of the disks 67, 68 and 69 has a lost-motion connection with thead-. jacent disk. Thus,in the operation of the drive shaft 21 the disksare. picked u successively, and finally when the last isk' is picked up,the cam shaft will be actuated.

In the present instance, the innermost disk 67 is in the form of a spurgear loosely mounted on the shaft 58 and geared to the drive shaft 21through a speed-reducing connection comprising gears 70 and 71, thelatter meshing with a inion 72 on the drive shaft. The disk 69 1s keyedor otherwise fixed to the control shaft 58 and the disk 69 is adapted tobe made rigid with the disk 69 by tion of the door as indicated in Fi 7means extending through coinciding holes 7 0 and 71 formed respectivelyin the disks 69 and 69. These holes provide for rotary adjustment of thedisk 69 relative to the shaft 58.

. Projecting outwardly from the gear 67 beyond the disk 68 is a lug 73which is adapted to engage with a radiallyextending lug 74 on thedisk 68after the gear has revo ved through nearly one revolution either from aposition corresponding to the closed posi- ,,or rom its position whenthe doors are open. The lug 74 has an outwardly extending portion 75whichprojects over both of the disks 69 and 69 in position to engage aradially projecting lug 7 6 on the disk 69* when rotating in a clockwisedirection indicated by the arrow in Fig. 7, as will be the case when thedoors are being opened or to engage a similar lug 76 on the disk 69 whenthe disk 68 is being rotated in a counterclockwise direction during thedoor-closing cycle. Sincethe disks 69 and 69 are rigid with the shaft58, engagement of either of the lugs 76 or 76 by the lug 74 causes theshaft 58 to be oscillated in the direction of rotation of the gear 67thereby terminating the operating cycle by actuating the reversingswitch, opening the main motor switch, and applying the brake in amanner described above.

As above stated, the lug 74 engages the lug 76 to terminate thedoor-closing cycle and therefore the slack portion of the lost-motionconnection must be so adjusted that the shaft 58 will'be oscillated asthe doors approach their closed position. The proper adjustment .of thedisk 69 to accomplish this result may be effected by manually rotatingthe drive-shaft 21 when disconnected from the doors in a directioncorresponding to the door-closing cycle and until the slack of thelost-motion connection has been taken up and the cam shaft 58 properlyoscillated and then, with the doors in closed position, slipping therack-bars 15 into mesh with the pinion 14. The lug 7 6 may then bepositioned so that it will be engaged by the lug 74 after the doors havebeen opened full width, thereby oscillating the cam shaft 58 toterminate the door-opening cycle. This may be accomplished by rotatingdisk 69* so as to bring the lug 7 6* into proper position and theninserting means such as a screw through the coinciding holes in the twodisks.

It will be apparent that with the lostmotion connection above described,the operating cycles of the power-driving unit may be varied as desired.Furthermore, since the connection provided is composed of compactliyarranged rotary elements and therefore oes not rely on a reciprocatorymember for its operation, the closure operator may be located at anyconvenient distance from the door and if necessary, the drive shaft 21may even be located in parallel or angular relation with respect to theplane of the doorway. Such an arrangement is particularly adapted foruse with door operators having rotary as distinguished fromreciprocatory actuating members.

Referring to Fig. 3, the reversing switch comprises two connector lates77 and 78 rigidl mounted on a she t 58 adjacent the cam isk andinsulated from each other. The plates have radially extending armsadapted to engage stationary spring contacts 79, 80, 81 and 82 on aninsulating plate 83. When the cam shaft 58 is positioned as shown inFigs. 2 and 3, the plate 77 connects the contacts 79 and 80 and theplate 78 connects the contacts 81 and 82. In the other position of thecam shaft, the contacts 80 and 81 are connected by the plate 77 whilethe contacts 79 and 82 are connected by the plate 78.

Referring to the wiring diagram in Fig. 8, the main field 24 of themotor is connected to one alternating current power line 84 and to onecontact 45 of the switch 42. The switch member 46 is connected by aconductor 85 to the other power line 86.

As is common practice in the construction of single-phase inductionmotors, the starting field 25 is connected in series with a switch 87which is intended to be opened to cut out the starting-field after themotor has attained a predetermined speed and torque on starting. Thisswitch is usually associated with the rotor of the motor so as to beopened by centrifugal action after the motor has started and to beclosed automatically when the motor is at rest or substantially so. Thestarting-field is connected to the contacts 7 9 and 81 of the reversingswitch.

The reversing switch contact 82 is connected to a contact 45 of the mainswitch l2 by a conductor 88 while the contact 80 is connected to thepower line 84 by a conductor 89. Thus, it will be seen that theconnection of the starting-field to the power lines is governed by themain switch 42 and that the connection betwen the starting-field and thepower lines will be reversed upon each oscillation of the cam shaft .58.

The latch magnet 57 for controlling the starting of the motor in eachdoor-operating cycle is interposed in a conductor 90 which leads fromthe conductor 88 to a switch 91. This switch is connected by a conductor90 to the power line 86 and is adapted when closed to complete theenergizing circuit for the latch magnet 57. Preferably, the switch 91 isof the push-button type.

Opermfiz'on in opening the (Zoom full width The operation of the controlmechanism in each operating cycle of the motor is as follows: assumingthe parts to be positioned initially as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Underthese conditions the main motor switch 42 would be open, the brake wouldbe applied to the drum 33,the centrifugal switch 87 would be closedbecause the motor is at rest, and contacts 79 and 81 would be connectedrespectively with contacts 80 and 852. Now, by closing the switch 91,the energizing circuit for the latch magnet is established as follows:From the power line 86, conductor 90, switch 91, conductor 90, magnet57, conductor 88, contacts 82 and 81, starting field 25, switch 87,contacts 79 and 8t), conductor 89 to the power line 84. Energization ofthe magnet 57 withdraws the latch 54 thereby allowing the spring 53 toswing the control lever 47 about the stud 49 as a pivot center, the studbeing at this time held stationary by reason of the engagement betweenthe follower 59 and the cam disks 60. This movement of the leverreleases the brake and closes the main motor switch 42 which connectsthe main motor field to the power lines and also establishes anenergizing circuit for the starting held 25 as follows: From the powerline 86 through the conductor 85, switch 42, conductor 88, contacts 82and 81, starting field 25, switch 87 which is still closed, contacts 79and 80, conductor 89 to the power line 84. Thus, the motor is started ina direction corresponding to the position of the reversing-switch androtation thereof causes the rack bars 16 to be moved to open or closethe doors. lVhen speed of the motor reaches the predetermined point, thecentrifugal force acting on the switch 87 will be suilicient to overcomethe tendency of the switch to remain closed. Opening of this switchbreaks the circuit for the starting field which is included in theenergizing circuit for the starting magnet 57.

If, in the operating cycle thus initiated, the motor rotates in adirection to open the doors, the gear 67 will rotate in a clockwisedirection as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 7. In such rotation, the lug73 engages the lug 74 after about one revolution, the disk 68 beingpicked up so as to rotate with the gear 67. After about anotherrevolution otthe gear 67, the portion 75 of the lug 74 engages the lug76 on the disk 69 thereby causing the cam shaft 58 to be oscillated toterminate the cycle since the lost motion in the connection between theshafts 21 and 58 has been taken up. Such oscillation of the cam shaft 58causes an inclined surface 62 of the cam device to actuate the follower59 to raise the stud 49. This raises the forward end of the lever 47about the upper edge of the openin 48 as a fulcrunnand against theaction of the spring 53, the latch being therebv allowed to swing inbeneath the lever 47 iecause the magnet 57 is at. this time deenergized.Thus the lever 47 is reset for the next door operating cycle. Thereafterthe cam device releases the follower 49 and the spring swings the rearend of the control lever downwardly, the upper end of the latch 54 beingthe fulcrum during this movement. In this way, the main motor switch isopened quickly and the brake is applied to the drum 33, the motor beingthereby stopped and the control mechanism is left in proper position forthe next cycle of operation.

The next energization of the starting magnet will start the motor in theopposite direction and such rotation causes the doors to be moved toclosed position. In such rotation, the gear 67 rotates in acounter-clockwise direction and after about one revolution the lug 73picks up the disk 68 by enga mg the side of the lug 74 opposite to thatw ich was engaged during the door-opening cycle. After part of anotherrevolution the portion 75 of the lug 74 engages the lug 76 therebyoscillating the disk 69 and therefore the shaft 58 in a directionopposite to the oscillation of the shaft which terminates thedoor-opening cycle. Oscillation of the cam shaft terminates thedoor-closing cycle in the same way as in the door-opening cycle. At theend of this cycle the elements of the lost-motion connection will bepositioned as shown in Fig. 7, and the other parts of the controlmechanism will be conditioned for the initiation of a door-opening cyclewhen the starting magnet 57 is again energized.

Attention is directed to the fact that with the control mechanism abovedescribed the motor cannot continue to operate in one direction longerthan the time requiredto complete one operating cycle. That is to say,the main motor switch will always be opened to stop the motor at apredetermined point in each cycle and cannot again be closed to restartthe motor until the motor has slowed down sufiiciently sothat the switch87 will close. This result is accomplished as above described byconnecting the magnet 57 in a control circuit leading through thecentrifugally operated switch 87 in the starting field circuit whichswitch is responsible to the speed of the motor and which, being commonto the starting field circuit and to the magnet control circuit, rendersthe starting field inoperative while the motor is running and at thesame time prevents energization of the latch magnet. This motor controlarrangement involving the use of the centrifugally operable switch forpreventing energization of the magnet 57 and restarting of the motor inthe normal cycle of operation until the speed of the motor has fallenbelow a predetermined value is disclosed and generically claimed in myco-pending application Serial No. 181,661, filed April 7, 1927.

Partially opening and automatically closing the doors To cause the doorsto be partially opened and then automatically closed so as to permit aperson topass through the doorway, means is provided which is operableby the actuation of an independent control device to establish anenergizing circuit for the starting magnet 57; to shorten thelost-motion connection between the shafts'21 and 58 so that the operatorwill execute a shorter cycle of operation; to condition the startingcircuit so that it will be closed automatically after the doors havebeen partially opened; and to restore the normal character of thelost-motion connection and the starting circuit while the doors are 35being closed. As shown in Fig. 8, the means is deenergized, the armatureis positioned as,

shown by the dot-dash lines in Fig. 6, but when the magnet is energized,the armature is drawn upwardly into full line position, thereby closinga switch 97 to complete a locking circuit for the magnet 93. Thiscircuit includes the magnet 93, contact terminal 98, and the armature 95which is connected to the conductor 90 The armature also constitutes themovable member of a switch 99, the stationary member of which is formedby a terminal contact 100 connected by a conductor 101 to the conductor90. Thus, it will be seen that the switch 99 is electrically in parallelwith the starting switch 91 used for operating the doors through theirnormal full stroke. Therefore, the energizing circuit for the magnet 57may be completed when the switch 87 is closed either through the switch91 or through the switch 99, the latter being closed by energization ofthe magnet 93 by closure of the switch 92.

The lost-motion connection between the shafts 21 and 58 is shortened tocause the door opening cycle of the operator to be terminated when thedoors are in partially open position by rendering the elements 68 and 69of the connection inoperative. To this end, a flapper 102 is pivoted ona disk 103 rigid with the shafts 58 and is adapted to be swung intoposition to be engaged by the lug 73 on the gear 67 when the latter hasrotated a predetermined distance, about one revolution in the resentinstance. In the form illustrated, t e flapper is substantially U-shaped in form and is swingable in a plane including the axis of shaft58 by reason of its pivotal mounting on a disk 103. This disk is securedto the disk 69" and therefore is made rigid with the shaft 58 by meansof a screw 104 (Fig. 4) extending through one of a plurality of holes105 and a pair of coinciding holes and 71 in disks 69 and 69. The holes105 allow for rotary adjustment of the flapper relative to thelug 73 andtherefore permit the length of the lost-motion connection between theflapper and the gear 67 to be varied. Preferably, the flapper isadjusted so as to be in vertical position when the doors are closed, inwhich position it will tend to swing downwardly by gravity.

The upper end of the flapper has a surface 106 (Fig. 5) which may bepositioned to be engaged by the lug 73 1n the rotation of the gear 67 ina clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 7, and aninclinedsurface 107 adapted to be engaged by a lug 108 when the gear isrotated in a counterclockwise direction. The latter lug extends throughan opening 109 in the gear 67, and is pivoted at 110 near one end of theopening against which end it is held by a spring 111.

The flapper is normally in the position indicated by the dot-dash linesin Fig. 6 and is moved into the full line position by an extension 112of the armature 95. Preferably, the extension engages the flapper at apoint substantially in alinement with the axis of the shaft 58 so thatengagement between the extension and the flapper will be maintained eventhough the flapper is oscillated with the cam shaft.

Operation in partially opening and automatically closing the doors Withthe parts ositioned as shown by the dot-dash lines in ig. 6, the doorswill be partially opened and then automatically closed whenever themanually operable switch 92 is closed momentarily. Closure of thisswitch energizes the magnet 93 whose armature 95 is thereby moved to thefull line position shown in Fig. 6. This closes the switches 97 and 99and moves the flapper 102 into position to reduce the slack in thelost-motion connection between the shafts 21 and 58. Closure of theswitch 97 completes the lockin circuit for the magnet 98 while closureof t e switch 99 energizes the starting magnet 57 by completin thecircuit which has been described above in detail in connection with theoperation of the doors by the switch 91, this circuit being through thereversing switch 44: and the centrifugal switch 87 which at this time isclosed since the motor is at rest. Thus, the brake is released and themain motor switch is closed to start the motor in a direction to openthe doors.

:When the motor has attained a predetermined speed the centrifugalswitch 87 is opened automatically thereby breaking the ener izingcircuit for the latch magnet 57 wine circuit would otherwise be heldclosed since the locking circuit maintains the switch 99 closed. In theinitial rotation of the gear 67, the lug 108 thereon engages the surface106 of the flapper (see Fig. 5) but passes by the flapper owing to itspivotal mounting. After the gear has rotated through about onerevolution, the lug 73 strikes the surface 106 of the flapper, therebyconnectin the gear to the shaft so that in the continue rotation of thegear the shaft will be oscillated. This resets the latch 54 for thecontrol lever, actuates the reversing switch so that the starting fieldconnections will be conditioned to cause a reverse rotation of the motorin the next cycle, opens the main motor switch 42 and applies the brake,the operating cycle being thereby terminated with the doors part wayopen.

is held open. Closure of the switch 87 will take place when the motorhas come substantially to rest. This automatically completes theenergizing circuit for the starting magnet 57 because at this time theswitch 99 is held closed by the magnet 93. Energization of the startingmagnet trips the lever 47, thereby starting the motor in a direction toclose the doors.

In the closing cycle of operation, the gear 67 rotates in a directionopposite to that of its previous movement and in such rotation carricethe lu 108 against the surface 107 of the flapper. he lug 108, beingheld against pivotal movement by the end of the opening 109, cams theflapper outwardly and this in turn moves the armature 95 to open theswitches 97 and 99, thereby breaking the locking circuit for the magnet93. The flapper and armature are then free to swing outwardly by theaction of gravity into the position indicated in dot-dash lines in Fig.6, the lost-motion connection being thereby restored to its normallength.

Near the end of the door-closing cycle, the lost-motion connectionoperates in its regular way, that is, b engagement between the lug 74:and the lug 6, to actuate the cam shaft 58 thereby terminating the cyclewhen the doors reach their closed position. Thus, at the completion ofthe closing cycle of operation, the control mechanism is conditioned foroperation in the next cycle either to open the doors full width byclosure of the switch 91 or to again partially open and automaticallyclose the doors under the control of the switch 92.

It will be observed that at the end of the cycle during which the dooris partially opened, the continued rotation of the motor afterdisconnection from the doors by operation of the centrifugal clutchserves to hold the switch 87 open and therefore delays the initiation ofthe door closing cycle. Such delay allows sufiicient time for a personto pass through the doorway and effectually prevents damage to the motorthat might result if it were possible to reverse the motor connectionswhile the motor is running at or near normal speed.

It will be noted that if the switch 92 normally used to initiate apartially opening cycle of operation should be closed when the doors areopen, an energizing circuit for the starting magnet 57 will beestablished in the usual way and the doors will be completely closed,the locking circuit for the magnet-93 being broken during the firstrevolution of the gear 67.

I claim as my invention:

1. A door operator having, in combination with a door, a motor, meansproviding a driving connection between said motor and the door, areversing switch operable to control the direction of rotation of saidmotor in opening and closing said door, a main motor switch operablewhen closed to start said motor thereby initiating a door-operatingcycle corresponding to the position of said reversing switch, meansoperating automatically to actuate said reversing switch and open saidmain switch after the doors have been moved through a predetermineddistance thereby terminating the cycle, manually operable con trol meansby which said main switch may be closed to initiate the normaldoor-operating cycle, and a second manual control means operableindependently of said first mentioned control means to initiate adoor-operating cycle and to condition said automatically operable meansso that it will terminate the ey cle after the door has been moved apredetermined shorter distance than in the normal 0 cle.

2. A mechanism of the character described having, in combination with adoor, a motor driven opertor associated with the door and adapted toopen andclose the door alternately in successive cycles of operation, aswitch for controlling either operating cycle of said motor,automatically operable means to open said switch thereby terminating thenormal cycle'of operation of said operator, and means operating undermanual control to initiate a cycle of operation by closing said switchand to condition said automatically operable means for the execution ofa cycle of operation which is shorter than said normal cycle.

3. A mechanism of the character described having, in combination with adoor, a powerdriven operator associated with said door and operable toopen and close the door alternately in successive cycles of operation,means opcrating automatically to terminate each dooroperating cycle,said means being normally conditioned to cause the operator to move thedoor a predetermined distance in opening or closing, manuallycont-rolled means to initiate the normal cycle of operation of saidoperator, and independent manually controlled means to initiate a cycleof operation of said operator and to condition said automatic means forthe execution of the cycle shorter than said normal operating cycle.

4. A door operator having, in combination with a door, a motor, adriving connection for transmitting the power of the motor to the doorfor opening and closing the same, means mechanically associated withsaid connection through a lost-motion device and operable automaticallyto terminate each cycle of operation when the lost-motion in said devicehas been taken up, manually controlled means for initiating the normalcycle of operation of said motor, and a second control means operable toinitiate the operation of.

said motor and to reduce the lost-motion in said device thereby causingthe operator to execute a predetermined cycle which is shorter than saidnormal cycle.

5. A door operator having, in combination with a door, an electricmotor, a driving shaft driven by said motor "and operatively connectedto said door, a driven shaft having a lost-motion connection with saiddriving shaft, means operated from said driven shaft for stopping themotor to terminate each door operating cycle, and means by which saidlost-motion connection may be shortened to cause said motor to execute acycle which is shorter than the normal cycle.

6'. A door operator having,-in combination with a door, a motoroperatively connected to the door, a switch for starting the motor toinitiate each door operating cycle, two independently operable controldevices by which said switch may be closed to start said motor, and asingle means for opening said switch to terminate each operating cycleautomatically, said last mentioned means being operable to cause anoperating cycle of one length to be executed when the cycle is initiatedby one of said control devices and to cause a cycle of a differentlength to be exeouted when the cycle is initiated by said other controlmeans.

7. A door operator having, in combination with a door, an electric motoroperatively connected to the door, a single switch adapted when closedto initiate a cycle of operation of said motor and when opened toterminate the cycle, two independent starting means for controlling theclosing of said switch, and switch actuating mechanism operableautomatically to terminate said cycle after a predetermined movement ofthe doors when the cycle is initiated by one of said starting means andto terminate the cycle after a predetermined shorter movement of thedoors when the cycle is initiated by said other starting means.

8. A power driving unit having, in combination with a closuremernber tobe operated thereby, an electric motor, a driving shaft driven by saidmotor and operatively connected to said closure member, a driven shaft,means operating in the oscillation of said driven shaft to stop themotor and thereby terminate the operating cycle, and a plurality ofcoaxially arranged rotatable elements cooperating to provide alost-motion connection between said driving and driven shafts whereby todetermine the length of each door operating cycle.

9. A power driving unit having, in combination with a closure member tobe operated thereby, an electric motor, a driving shaft driven by saidmotor and operatively connected to said closure member, a driven shaft.means operating in the oscillation of said driven shaft to stop themotor and thereby terminate the operating cycle, and a series ofcoaxially arranged rotary elements each having a lostmotionconnectionwith the adjacent element of the series, the elements atopposite ends of the series being connected respectively to the drivingand driven shafts.

10, A power driving unit having, in combination with a closure member tobe operated thereby, an electric motor, a driving shat't driven by saidmotor and operatively connected to said closure member. a driven shatt.means operating in the oscillation of said driven shaft to stop themotor and thereby terminate the operating cycle, a series of coaxiallyarranged rotary elements each having a lost-motion connection with theadjacent element. and means for rendering certain of saidelementsinoperative whereby to reduce the lost motion between said shafts.

11. A closure operator having, in combi nation with a door to beoperated thereby, an electric motor, a shaft operatively associated withsaid door and adapted to be driven by said motor in opposite directionsin successive cycles of operation, means for stopping said motor toterminate each operating cycle, actuating means for said stopping meanshaving a lost-motion connection with said shaft, and selectivelyoperable means for varying the amount of lost-motion in said connectionwhereby to vary the length of the door operating cycle.

12. A closure operator having, in combination with a door to be operatedthereby, a motor, a driving shaft driven by said motor and operable toopen and close the door upon rotation of the motor in oppositedirections, means operable to stop said motor and thereby terminate thedoor operating cycle, means providing a lost-motion connection betweensaid driving shaft and said stopping means, the length of saidconnections determining the length of the normal door operating cycle,means operable under manual control to shorten said connection wherebyto shorten the door operating cycle, and means operating in thesucceeding operating cycle to restore said connection to its normallength.

13. A closure operator having, in combination with a door to be operatedthereby, an electric motor adapted to open and close the door uponrotation in opposite directions, means for stopping the motor toterminate each cycle of operation, means normally operable in therotation of said motor to actuate said stopping means after apredetermined movement of said door, and manually controllable means forchanging the character of said actuating means whereby to cause theactuating means to terminate the operating cycle after the doors havemoved a predetremined shorter distance than in the normal operatingcycle.

14. A closure operator having, in combination with a door to be operatedthereby, an electric motor adapted to open and close the door uponrotation in opposite directions, means for stopping the motor toterminate each cycle of operation, means normally operable in therotation of said motor to actuate said stopping means after apredetermined movement of said door, and manually controllable means forchanging the character of said actuating means whereby to cause theactuating means to terminate the operating cycle after the doors havemoved a predetermined shorter distance than in the normal operatingcycle, and means operating automatically in the succeedingoperatingcycle to render said last mentioned means inoperative.

15. An operating mechanism having, in combination with a door, a driveshaft adapted to open or close the door upon rotation in oppositedirections. an electric motor, a centrifugal clutch operable to transmitthe power 01"" said motor to said shaft when the motor is rotating abovea predetermined speed and to disconnect said motor and said shaft whenthe motor is running below said predetremined speed whereby to prolongthe rotation of the motor after such disconnection, and a switchoperable after the termination of one cycle of operation of said motorand in the subsequent rotation thereof to automatically restart saidmotor for the execution of another cycle.

16. An operating mechanism having, in combination with a door, a motor,a clutch operable by centrifugal action when the motor is rotating abovea predetermined speed to connect said motor to the door and todisconnect the motor whereby to allow for prolonged rotation of themotor above a predetermined speed due to its inertia, an electromagneticswitch for starting said motor in a direction to move the door from opento closed position, and means for energizing the magnet of said switchafter the termination of a door-opening cycle whereby to automaticallyclose the door, said last mentioned means including a switch responsiveto the speed of the motor after disconnection in the prolonged rotationof the motor from said door by the operation of said clutch.

17. An operating mechanism having, in combination with a door, a motor,a centrifugally operated clutch for transmitting the power of said motorto the door, and means operating in the prolonged rotation of the motorresulting from disconnection thereof by said clutch at the end of onedoor operatmg1 cycle to initiate automatically another cyc e.

18. An operator for opening and automatically closing a door having, incombination with a door, a motor rotatable in opposite directions insuccessive operating cycles, means by which the power of said motor istransmitted to the door, control mechanism operable automatically toterminate the dooropening cycle of said motor means operable to permitthe motor to rotate by its own inertia after the termination of thenormal cycle, said last mentioned means including an automatic clutchfor disconnecting the motor from the door, and means operatingautomatically in the rotation of said motor after operation of theclutch to start the motor in direction to close the door, the movementof the door to closed position being thereby delayed for a predeterminedinterval after the termination of the door-opening cycle.

19. An operating mechanism having, in combination with a door, a motorrotatable in opposite directions in successive operating cycles to openand close the door, means to control said motor to open said door, meansoperating automatically to control said motor whereby to close the door,and means for delaying the operation of said last mentioned meansincluding a centrifugal clutch inter-- posed between the motor and thedoor and operable to disconnect the motor from the door and therebyprolong the rotation of the motor.

20. A closure operator having, in combination with a door to be operatedthereby, a motor, a driving connection for opening and closing the dooralternately in successive cycles of operation of said motor, a mainmotor switch, means operating automatically to terminate each dooroperating cycle by opening said switch, an electromagnet adapted whenenergized to cause said switch to be closed whereby to start said motor,an energizing circuit for said magnet including a switch which is openonly when the motor is running above a redetermined speed, anotherswitch opera le under manual control to start the motor when the door isin closed position and means operable to hold said last mentioned switchclosed during the dooropening cycle so that the circuit for said magnetwill be completed automatically by closure of said speed responsiveswitch at the termination of the door-opening cycle.

21. A closure operator having, in combination with a door to be operatedthereby, a motor, a driving connection for opening and closing the dooralternately in successive cycles of operation of said motor, a mainmotor switch, means operating automatically to terminate eachdoor-operating cycle by opening said switch, an electro-magnet adaptedwhen energized to cause said switch to be closed whereby to start saidmotor, an energizing circuit for said magnet including a switc 1 adaptedto be held open by centrifugal action in the rotation of said motor,another switch operable under manual control to cause the motor to bestarted in a direction to open said door, and means for holding saidlast mentioned switch closed while the door is being opened.

22. A closure operator having, in combination with a door to be operatedthereby, a motor, a driving connection for opening and closing the dooralternately in successive cycles of operation of said motor, a mainmotor switch, means operating automatically to terminate each dooroperating cycle by opening said switch, an electromagnet adapted whenenergized to cause said switch to be closed whereby to start said motor,an energizing circuit for said magnet including two switches in seriesone operable under manual control, the other being operableautomatically and adapted to be open when the motor is running andclosed when the motor is at rest or substantially so, means formaintaining said manually controlled switch closed while the door isbeing opened including an electromagnet and a locking circuit therefor,and means operating while the door is being closed to break said lockingcircuit.

23. A closure operator having, in combination with a door to be operatedthereby, a motor, a driving connection for opening and closing the dooralternately in successive cycles of operation of said motor, a mainmotor switch, means operating automatically to terminate each dooroperating cycle by opening said switch, an electro-magnet adapted whenenergized to cause said switch to be closed whereby to start said motor,an energizing circuit for said magnet including two switches in seriesone operable under manual control, the other being operableautomatically and adapted to be open when the motor is running andclosed when the motor is at rest or sub stantially so, and means formaintaining said manually controlled switch closed while the door isbeing opened including an electromagnet and a locking circuit therefor.

24:. A closure operator having, in combination with a door to beoperated thereby, a motor, a driving connection for opening and closingthe door alternately in successive cycles of operation of said motor, amain motor switch, means operating automatically to terminate each dooroperating cycle by opening said switch, an electromagnet adapted whenenergized to cause said switch to be closed whereby to start said motor,two parallel energizing circuits each including said magnet, a switch inone of said circuits adapted when closed to complete the circuit therebyinitiating a cycle of operation of said motor, a switch in said othercircuit also adapted when closed to initiate acycle of operation of themotor, means for holding said last mentioned switch closed at the end ofone door operating cycle, and a switch in said last mentioned circuitoperable after the termination of one operating cycle to close thecircuit automatically to initiate a succeeding cycle of operation.

25. A power driven operator having, in combination with a closure memberto be operated thereby, a driving unit operatively associated with saidmember, means having a lost motion connection with said unit fordetermining the range of movement of said closure member by the unit,and manually operable means for varying the amount of lost motion insaid connection to change the range of movement of said closure member.

26. A power driven operator having in combination with a closure memberto be operated thereby, a driving unit operatively associated with saidmember, means having a lost motion connection with said unit fordetermining the range of movement of said closure member by the unit,and electromag netic means for varying the amount of lost motion in saidconnection to change the range of movement of said closure member.

2'2. A power driven operator having, in combination with a closuremember to be operated thereby, a motor operatively associated with saidmember, means having a lost motion connection with said motor fordetermining the range of movement of said closure member, manuallyoperable means for starting said motor and changing the amount of lostmotion in said connection to change the range of movement of saidclosure member.

28. A universal power driving unit for doors having difierent operatingmovements comprising, in combination, a frame, a motor mounted on saidframe, a shaft on said frame driven from said motor and having one endarranged for operative association with different kinds of doors, aswitch controlling the operation of said motor, and means controllingsaid switch to define an operating cycle of the motor depending upon thecharacter of the door with which said shaft is connected, said lastmentioned means including a second shaft mounted on said frame andoperatively associated with said switch, and means independent of saidconnection between said first shaft and said door providing anadjustable lost-motion connection between said shafts.

29. A universal operating unit for doors combining a frame, a motorthereon, a shaft on said frame connected to said motor and adapted to beconnected with the door to be operated, a member controlling theduration of operation of said motor in successive operating cycles andactuating means for said member including a lost-motion deviceinterposed between said shaft and said member, said device beingseparate from the connection between said shaft and said door whereby todefine a predetermined number of revolutions of said shaft independentlyof said connection.

30. A universal operating unit for doors combining a frame, a shaftmounted on said frame and adapted for association with different kindsof door operating mechanisms, 21 motor for driving said shaft, and meanson said frame for defining the duration of opera tion of said motor inoperating said door, said last mentioned means being operated from saidshaft independently of the connections between the shaft and the door tobe operated.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

DUNCAN J. STEWART.

